The Next Time

There's always that somebody we all know which will not take "No," or "Wait," as an answer. Maybe yourself or a loved one, associate or foe. Either way the tenacity catches our attention or "rubs" us the WRONG way. Actually, there are pros to these selfish antics. Say for instance, retail and used car or product associations are filled with silver tongued slicksters.

I remember working for a "charitable organization," at one time and we were given a script to read for potential donations. The gist of the call was inform their loved one was in "jail" and to "pledge" a donation would provide "bond."
Sounds harmless until you make that one call that stirs genuine concern or fear. After careful consideration and a conviction to heavy to bear, I quit.

There are countless working stiffs folks in the marketing and telemarketing industry professionally trained to "sale," without remorse. The quotas and sale margins are blood thirsty and relentless. Not to mention most collection agency operate call centers filled to capacity with employees just released from any number of jails or prisons, and don't mind snatching any ounce of dignity you possess.
Just to maintain a unsympathetic rapport just to make a buck or pay your way in life is baffling and well, the only alternative some of us have or some say. There are a number of employment choices which require "don't take NO as an answer,"mandate. Anytime we choose to harass or take it upon ourselves to cause mental or emotional unrest, financial hardship or dishonesty to unsuspecting "victims," we define ourselves as ungodly suspects or willing participants of Satan- period.

Even within the body of Christ some have taken the scope of discipleship out of context. What qualifies any of us to pursue the unbeliever with any other ulterior motive than to love them into the kingdom of God?
Our soul-saving motives become competitive and spiritually moot when it becomes a quota venture. We are to be humble as doves, while maintaining the same reconnaissance skills as the serpent minus the evil intent.
When we become witnesses for Christ Jesus, we take note of the unbelievers lifestyles or negative habits, but most importantly their holistic needs. The serpent successfully fulfilled his quest to beguile the woman-Eve because he knew her; schedule, desires, likes and dislikes. So a scheduled approach with subtle deception proved successful!

Though we are sometimes assigned impossible missions as disciples and saints, we should never resort to deceptive measures. With God as our guide, all things are POSSIBLE.
Allow the Holy Spirit to work on the heart of the unbeliever through fervent prayer and Christ' love. Though many times attempts to maintain divine-like light or winning souls seem sketchy, futile or time consuming, God has blessed His children with tenacity and biblical authority to patiently wait or purposely move on. There's always a "NEXT TIME, or a NEXT IN LINE."

Opened Can of Worms

The passion of most advocates for justice, rights and change are commendable, and establishing or reiterating the fine lines outlined in the Constitution by which America was established is vital. However, please know the demand for social change does not carry the same moral agenda as in yesteryear. The fight for a woman's right to vote, smoke in public and other such rights have escalated to proportions which defile the very core of human rights.
The pro-choice agenda basically concludes with a woman's right to abort "her" fetus for whatever reason. Rightfully so; she woke herself up this morning, and by sheer will she breathes and sustains life, so it stands to reason her choice to terminate a life is a commendable trait-right?
Well, let's explore the millions of pregnancies which were unplanned, incestuous, or the consequence of rape. How do challenge and alter the process of conception? The manner of conception becomes moot once life is introduced and settled in the womb. The fertilized egg contains two DNA profiles. No matter the emotional trauma or the unfair consequences, the baby is a gift of life from the giver of life. Should not EVERY unborn child have the opportunity to fulfill a God-chosen purpose? Oftentimes throughout life I've personally known a few women who "chose," to abort their baby.
My personal views are irrelevant, especially when everyone has the right to choose and sometimes those choices are the result of ignorance, anger, rash later regrettable and irreversible choices. Surely [she] knew, however denied the obligation and responsibility as a parent to provide love and offer the nurturing skills entrusted to a parent. The virgin Mary maintained the same level of virtue though she hadn't a clue what the future held but her willingness to trust the same God which gave her life through her parents, was enough.
No one really understands the mind and heart of a woman who for whatever reason chooses "pro-choice," over "pro-life." The level of guilt, regret or satisfaction becomes either nightmare or closure. God specializes in whatever one may need to establish forgiveness or denial.
The can-of-worms saga continues to disperse "worms," of every evil or disobedient agenda known to civilization. Now that we as a society has opened the can, will it become a source to catch the fish of God's righteousness or the devourer of truth?

Alcohol Recall

When is enough, enough, when it concerns; "drinking hooch," cocktails, adult beverages or "turning up?" According to society's divided purview of alcoholism, a functional alcoholic can maintain gainful employment, chair town hall and board meetings and are eligible to drive as long as one maintains a level above 0.drunk. Today's moral criteria's are all but obsolete in mainstream society and parallel to thug rites of passage. So it stands to reason why and how hypocrisy has become societies cultural mentor.
Social drinking covertly converts depressed victims of daily stress into "functional alcoholics." According to predominately every religion known to America, drinking is not only acceptable, but also encouraged at social church "fellowships," as long as the integrity of the denomination is observed and reverenced. After all, Jesus turned water into wine, and alcohol and wine are synonymous. Right? Okay, we're all adults so lets get to the meat and potatoes of the article; the liver suffers whether one is functional as a alcoholic or "pissy drunk, daily. The sooner we stop making excuses for human frailty due to disobedience and poor judgment, the sooner we can make rational decisions when it concerns the drinking age, healthy choice menus for our schools and nurseries, and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices.
"Everything in moderation." If one must or prefer to enjoy strong liquor for any or preferred occasions, then one must consider ones' mental capacity during such excursions. Some folks drink out of sheer disregard for sobriety or desperation of escaping the lows of life, or past tragedies, personal pity parties, mental disease or naiveté. Just remember we are responsible for 10 systems housed by a delicate shell. We can literally "go before our time," if we choose to abandon all logic, and "drown in our sorrows," on the rocks, neat or with a chaser.

If you are experiencing depression due to excessive alcohol binges or you are unsure if you have a drinking problem, there are many resources available on the internet which can assist in assessing what may potentially lead to serious health complications. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of networking "recovering addicts," which hold meetings to encourage sobriety. And of course there are spiritual measures such as clergy counseling, prayer or professional therapy.

What time is it in your life?

Time is of the essence when it concerns financial obligations, our children's futures, our employment woes or career choices, retirement, investments; basically everything but our health, sanity and spirituality.
As adults we tend to place ourselves on the back burner of life and conveniently forget to turn on the heat. We ensure the main course of responsibility is served to the mortgage company, credit card creditors, utility company, gas company, the mall, finance company...yada yada yay.
What good is it to furnish a house you never get to enjoy? The time when spend paying off a mortgage on a house we forsake our knees laying carpet, hardwood floors, marble tile to showoff to undeserving family members and fickle friends is as common as a cold. Not to mention the unnecessary repairs due to juvenile exploits of ungrateful children and to-tired to care husbands. The American dream has become the devil's most accomplished exploit. We gain what our parents killed themselves trying to provide for us; financial chaos.
The seasons of our lives are so out of sync with God's divine plan. We attempt to reap a harvest during the planting seasons of our un-promised days, and set to plant during dark and unproductive times. The most valuable almanac we can possess in our personal seasons are published by our actions. If we sow greed, we will reap; misfortune. If we plant stolen moments at the expense of others, we will most certainly reap; destruction.
There is hope though, God has many fields of fresh second chances. No purchase necessary, He has already paid the price.